To say that Eleanor was surprised to come back to the dorms to find a package waiting for her was an understatement, and she would have thought maybe it had been meant so someone else if it weren't for the fact that the note was addressed specifically to her (and she had checked several times, as well as trying to think of anyone who might have a name similar to hers that it might have been mistaken for).

But, no. Kamala's mother had really sent her a little box of treats.

And socks.

And Eleanor didn't have even the first clue what to make of it.

Was it a trick? A threat? QWas there a catch? By accepting it, was she agreeing to some sort of social contract she had no knowledge of or context for? What if they were poisoned? What if she didn't like them? Had Kamala talked to her parents, about them dating? Was this a sign of their approval? An opaquely veiled sign of disapproval? Were they just being nice?

Of course they were. She'd met them, when Kamala invited them all out to Jersey for Eid. And she'd met Kamala. And while Eleanor's family had been the literal monsters on the mountaintop, Kamala's was an ever rarer breed than that: genuinely good, kind people.

It was weird, and strange, but she could try and be a good, kind person back, which was why she then sat down to write a thank you letter back to Kamala's mother, in her best, neat little Catholic school script, and then realized the box didn't have a return address for her to send the letter to.

Which she supposed unlocked the door of whether or not she was going to say anything to Kamala about it now, or just bring it up maybe in class tomorrow.

And so, a text:

Hi, Kam. It's El. Can I get your parents' address? I think your mother sent me a box of treats

And SOCKS, Eleanor! Don't forget the SOCKS!

and I wanted to send her a thank you note. Do you think that would be okay?